GWU vs. WCU

Should I go to Gardner Webb University or Western Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GWU or WCU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Gardner Webb University vs. Western Carolina University comparison
Gardner Webb University Western Carolina University College 3 College 4
Gardner Webb University Western Carolina University
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Overview

 GWU WCU
Location Boiling Springs, NC Cullowhee, NC
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 3,125 11,628
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #604 #742
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gardner-webb.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GWU WCU
Tuition (In State) $32,470 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $32,470 $5,000
Room & Board $10,770 $11,764
Avg Net Price $24,035 $12,252
Avg Grant Aid $24,762 $5,442
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

 GWU WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,670 18,183
Admitted 4,064 15,758
Acceptance Rate 87% 86.7%
Enrolled % 10.1% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.44
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 20/26
SAT Range 1040/1260 1050/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025

Academics

 GWU WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 GWU WCU
Graduation Rate 55% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,500 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,969 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $258 $227

Diversity

 GWU WCU
% Men 12% 4%
% Women 29% 10%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 79%
% Black 17% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

 GWU WCU
% In-State 54% 78%
% Out-of-State 41% 19%

Campus

 GWU WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than GWU based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 3,125 students)

GWU vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GWU or WCU?

  • Gardner Webb University is 3,147% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($32,470.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 549.4% higher at GWU than Western Carolina University ($32,470.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than GWU ($12,252 vs. $24,035)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 9.2% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,770 vs. $11,764)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University as Western Carolina University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 355% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($24,762 vs. $5,442)

GWU vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GWU or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or GWU .

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 55 points higher than at GWU (977)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at GWU (21)
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at WCU (3.44)
  • GWU has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than WCU (86.7%)

GWU vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GWU or WCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WCU and GWU.

  • The graduation rate at GWU is higher than Western Carolina University (55% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Gardner Webb University earn on average $1,400 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($40,500 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $2,959 lower median federal student loan debt than GWU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $24,969)
  • WCU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than GWU graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GWU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/